Hi,

I typically feed my two goldfish once a day. They are about 1.5" long
each.

I will be going out of town at the end of the summer and I'm wondering
how long I can leave them without feeding them?

Is 1 or 2 days okay? What about 3 or 4?

Are timed-release feeders a good solution?

Thanks,
John

e.otter

My fish have gone 5 days while I've been away and I've heard that goldfish
can survive upto 7 days without feedings.

From my own personal experience its best to do a water change and gravel
cleaning before going and don't feed them anymore than usual before going
away either. If you do ask someone to feed your fish while you're gone,
make sure they either understand thoroughly how much to feed or bag daily
portions for the person.

If by "time release feeders" you are referring to those things that dissolve
in your tank, I have never ever heard anything good about them and most of
the bad things I've heard are really bad (like clogging your filter with
guck).

I don't know how good electronic automatic feeders are, but if I was going
to be gone a really long time and I couldn't find someone reliable to feed
my fish, I would buy one.

charles

I've left my fish for two months at a time repeatedly.

goldfish in the pond, two years with out anyone feeding them.
--
Charles

Does not play well with others.

peter ammon

The number I've heard most often is two weeks. Three to four days
shouldn't be a problem.

--
Pull out a splinter to reply.

geezer from the freezer

I've gone away for 8 days and they've been fine.
I added some plants a few weeks before hand and lowered
the thermometer so the temp dropped to lower their metabolism.
I also didn't clean any algae off in the tank and did a 50%
water change a few days before leaving.

bettasngoldfish

Yep, I agree that it's better to not have some one feed while your
away. Do a large water change before leaving, add some floating plants
( I use anacharis) so they have something to keep them busy, mine love
to eat it : ) You should be able to leave a well fed goldfish for a
week without feeding. If you would feel better have someone stop by
and make sure your filters, air pumps, and such are all working.

Thank you to everyone for your responses. I'm glad to hear that the
fish will be fine.

THANKS!!!

John